IDAHO'S NEW SUNDAY LAW by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 3, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 14.

IDAHO'S NEW SUNDAY LAW.

By Editor

WE wonder what the friends of religious liberty were doing up in Idaho, that such a law should have passed.

Sunday laws are demanded first of all by those who believe Sunday to be sacred (a perfect right which they have, of course), and who also believe that everybody else ought to be made to conform to their belief (a contention without a shadow of right).

Most of the politicians know nothing about it and care less. Some of them believe in Sunday and Sunday laws from religious prejudice. A very few see the dangers in this entering wedge of union of Church and State; but nearly all of them are coming to fear the church vote, and so support or refrain from opposing any measure of that sort, thinking it will matter little one way or the other, and knowing nothing of what will doubtless grow out of it as demonstrated by the lessons of Church-and-State history.

On the other hand, if a fair, faithful, persistent campaign of enlightenment is entered upon, if the legislators are educated in principles of liberty which, perhaps, they have never before studied, such measures would, at least, be more intelligently discussed, and in many cases defeated. Good men may be behind them; good men may mistakenly espouse them; but all religious legislation is iniquitous, perniciously so. It is a confession on the part of those who ask it that there is not enough of the power of God in the institution to stand. If in the law, it becomes an instrument of intolerance and

persecution on the part of bigots. It is contrary to every principle of true Americanism. All civil legislation ought to be for the benefit and for the protection of the rights of the individual man, and not for any class or any dogma. Sunday laws are diametrically opposed to every principle of liberty.

Here is a copy of the Idaho Sunday law as reported by the Lewiston "Teller," of that State in its issue of the 13th ultimo:

"Section 1. That the first day of the week is hereby set aside as a day of public rest.

What People Can Not Do.

"Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons in this State to keep open on Sunday for the purpose of any business, trade, or sale of goods, wares, or merchandise, any shop, store, building, or place of business whatever; provided, that hotels and restaurants may furnish lodging and meals; and, provided, that this section shall not apply to livery stables, or to drug stores in so far as the sale of medicines or sick-room supplies are concerned, or to undertakers while providing for the dead, or to news stands in so far as the quiet sale and delivery of daily papers is concerned, nor to sale of non-intoxicating refreshments, candies, and cigars.

Penalties for Violations.

"Any person or persons violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof said offender shall be fined in any sum not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100), or shall be imprisoned in the county jail not to exceed thirty days, and upon a second conviction by both such fine and imprisonment.

"Sec. 3. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons in this State to keep open on Sunday any saloon, or place of any kind or description in which spirituous, vinous, malt, or any intoxicating liquors are at any time sold or exposed for sale, or to give, or sell, or otherwise dispose of any spirituous, vinous, malt, or any intoxicating liquors except as provided for in other parts of this act; or to keep open any theater, play-house, dance-house, race-track, merry-go-round, circus, or show, concert saloon, billiard, or pool room, bowling alley, variety hall, or any such place of public amusement.

No Sunday Racing.

"Any person or persons violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof said offender shall be fined in any sum not less than thirty dollars ($30) nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) for each offense, and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed ninety days; and upon a second conviction any license which may have been granted for opening and maintaining any such place of business shall also be rendered void and not be renewed within two years next thereafter.

"Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons in this State to engage on Sunday in horse racing.

Authorities Must Act.

"Any person or persons violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof said offender shall be fined in any sum not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100), or shall be imprisoned in the county jail not to exceed thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of each prosecuting attorney, sheriff, constable, city or town marshal, or any and all other public officers in this State to inform against and diligently prosecute any and all persons guilty of the violations of the provisions of this act, either upon credible information as to any violation, or upon reasonable cause to believe that there has been any such violation.

Officials Can Be Removed.

"Any such officer who shall refuse or wilfully neglect to inform against and prosecute said offenders against this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) and the court before which said officer shall be tried shall declare the office or appointment held by said officer vacant for the remainder of his term.

"Sec. 6. All fines collected from the violation of this act shall be paid into the common school fund of the county.

"Sec. 7. All acts and parts of acts, either general or special, in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed in so far as they conflict with the provisions of this act."

This bill has been signed by the governor. It was greatly toned down, and is much less rigid than its advocates desired. It is an opening wedge which will be driven harder and heavier as men behind it have the power. It passed thru the Senate without any debate whatsoever. What were the friends of religious liberty doing in Idaho?